Do you want to know what truly breaks my heart? When a tech gets bamboozled into buying Tooth Gems that simply don’t belong on teeth.

Not only does it crush a tech’s confidence when things go wrong, but it also leaves the client with sub-par results. Want to know why it really breaks my heart? Because I’ve been that bamboozled tech before.

So I’m here to help you spot the bamboozlers and choose Tooth Gems your clients actually deserve.

Where to Start

I know it can feel overwhelming. As the Tooth Gem industry grows, so does the number of suppliers, and unfortunately, the number of scammers.

The good news? You can simplify the process by focusing on just three categories:

crystals, diamonds, and gold.

Once you understand the basics of each, you’ll be able to build your inventory, and your clientele, with confidence.

Crystal Tooth Gems

I’m going to preface this with a warning: what I’m about to say may be controversial. As always, I encourage you to do your own research and follow your heart when running your business.

For me, the results speak for themselves. I’ve been applying Tooth Gems since 2018, and I know exactly what kind of results I’m after. I’ll save you seven years of trial and error and tell you what works for me.

When it comes to crystals, I stick to just that: glass crystals. No acrylics, no opals, no fillers. Glass crystals with foil backings are all you need.

To make your search even easier, I recommend using Preciosa or Swarovski crystals. I personally prefer Preciosa, as I’ve found the glass crystal doesn’t separate from the foiling the way some Swarovskis can. That said, I’ve had great success with both.

There are three main reasons I don’t recommend acrylics or opals:

1. They’re porous and more likely to harbor bacteria

2. They’re less durable than glass

3. They simply don’t sparkle the same way glass crystals do

And yes, this advice comes from experience. Early in my Tooth Gem career, I unknowingly purchased an acrylic crystal from what I thought was a reputable supplier. My client came back, not to compliment my work, but because her Tooth Gem had tarnished and discolored.

Of course, we had her dentist remove it, and I gave her a new set free of charge. I’ve had clients’ Tooth Gems last six years or more, and the last thing I want is to apply something that can’t stand the test of time.

Learn from my mistake. Stick to Preciosa or Swarovski and save yourself the stress.

Diamonds

When it comes to diamond Tooth Gems, things get much simpler.

Personally, I only use the real deal. Real diamonds are set in a bed of gold. We’ll talk more about gold in a moment, but for now, just know this: if it’s a real diamond, it should be paired with solid 18k gold.

I don’t use moissanite or diamond look-alikes. While they may be durable, stones without a backing are nearly transparent once applied to the tooth. Glass crystals shine because of their foil backing. Diamonds shine because of their gold backing. If a stone doesn’t have one or the other, it simply won’t perform the same.

Gold Tooth Gems

This is a topic I could talk about all day. If you want a deeper dive, you can read my previous post, “Why Choose Gemini Smile Gold?” I’ll also be sharing more education on gold in future posts.

For now, here are the three most important things to look for when choosing a gold Tooth Gem supplier.

1. Solid 18k Gold. First and foremost, your gold should be solid 18k white or yellow gold. No plating. No filling. No alternative materials.

2. Designed for Retention. Look for charms with a slight curve to match the natural shape of teeth and a textured backing that allows dental adhesive to lock in properly. The only exception is diamonds, which may not be curved but should still have a textured gold backing.

3. Designed for Teeth. Gold should be sized and detailed specifically for Tooth Gems. Not too large, not too small, and not so intricate that the design gets lost.

As a general rule, I rarely use anything over 6mm tall or 5mm wide. (The same sizing applies to shaped crystals, too.)

Your Success Is My Success

You can feel confident buying Tooth Gems from Gemini Smile because I only offer products I personally use on my own clients.

And if there’s ever something I don’t carry and you’re unsure about a supplier or material, reach out. I’ll always give honest, unbiased advice to help you choose the safest, highest-quality options for your clients.

Xoxo,

Katana